If BiH continues with reforms within the framework of the Reform Agenda, the European Union will know how to recognize it, especially because BiH applications for membership in the EU will be considered in the summer of this year.
This was stated at a press conference in Sarajevo, organized in the framework of a two-day international conference on the topic “The chances for progress” in which participated many officials and experts from various fields, and which was organized by the America-Bosnia Foundation and Johns Hopkins SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations (CTR).
Prime Minister of FBiH, Fadil Novalic, clearly emphasized that the European path of BiH has no alternative, adding that society is trying to strengthen the path towards the EU while trying to solve problems especially in the field of labor and employment.
“There is no doubt in where we’re going, but the question is how many difficulties we will encounter along the way, and with how much passion and energy they will be dealt with,” explained the Prime Minister.
Head of the EU Delegation to BiH and the EU Special Representative in BiH, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, emphasized that the essence of the reforms are outlined in the Reform agenda, and that it is necessary to show that BiH is capable to carry the burden of reforms. For him, this conference is proof that the United States and the entire international community support this approach of the EU towards BiH.
“One-third of reforms is implemented, but the work has to be continued. The key is to maintain the swing, primarily bearing in mind that the EU will consider BiH application for membership in the summer, and based on that decide whether BiH will go into the next phase of joining or not,” said Wigemark.
Since local elections will be held this year in BiH, Wigemark urged for European integration issues not to be included in the subject of the campaigns, because it is affecting the whole country, and reminded that all parties committed to implementation of the Reform Agenda and to work together on it.
“Anyone who obstructs important decisions such as the achievement of the arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the World Bank or the fulfillment of the agreement with the EU, will be very clearly called and named,” as announced by the EU Special Representative in BiH.
(Source: klix.ba)
